Positioning mechanism



Dec. 16, 1924.

POSITIONING MECHANISM Filed April 1, 1922' B. A. LINDERMAN A 5 Sheets-$heet 1 oooooo/ooooooooooooo Dec. '16, 1924.

B. A. LINDERMAN POSITIONING MECHANISM mop April 1. 1922' 5 Sheeis-Sheet' 2 Dec. 1924. 1,519,783

" B. A. LINDERMAN PosITIos-rue "Grunts" Filed April 1. 1922' 5 sheets-sheep 4 B. A. LINDERMAN rosxnoume uzcnAM-sra" 13d. April 1 Patented lid,

BERT A. LINDERMAN, 015 MUSKEGQN, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO MUSKEGON MACHINE OF 1VIUSKEGGN, MICHIGAN, A. COEPQRATION OF MICHIGAN.

POSITIONIQNG MECHANISM.

Application filed April 1,

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BERT A. Linnnuimn, a citizen of the United States, residing in Muskegon, in the county of hllushegon and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Positioning Mecln anism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates iug or positionin devices and ha more particular reference to an opcr used in connection with the positioning and feeding of boards and other like "P les chine for oper 7 however, be understood that it is tion to protect my invention against unauthorized application to other uses to which it may be applicable. The nvention in certain of its aspects relates to the matter of Letters Patent 1,316,051 granted September 16, 1919 to Bert Arthur Linderman for positioning mechanism and has for one of its purposes the provision of a structure simpler in construction than that described in said patent and one which will not require the provision of electrical agencies and controls an incident to its operation.

An import it object of in entiou is the provision of an apparatus i ii the purposes of feeding boards or other articles. which while capable of wholly autonniiiic action in the positioning of said boards is still easily manually operable to take account of board impcrfe tions which otherwise would not produce ct upon the feeding action. In this regard it may be stated that as in the Linderman patent above-mentioned my apparatus is adapted to arrange a board or other article so that, for example, a minimum amount of material is removed in truing up the edge. It also contemplates ready variation in its action by the operator to talt. care of edge knots and edge imperfections, which for one reason or another are without affect on the feeding action.

The invention contemplates also the provision of a mechanism of this character which may be readily adjustable so that more or less material will be disposed alongside the theoretic line of operation whether this line of operation be the saw, l'ioring machine or other piece of apparatus.

The nvention has for a further object the f a ma omplishing this L in general U.) recit- 1922. Serial No. 548,585.

and other desirable results, which will consist of few and simple parts insuring because of their construction and arrangement, against excessive wear or frequent repair, readjustment or replacement.

rlnotl'icr in'qiortant object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism of the character described, which may be efficiently operated and controlled by a relatively unskilled attendant and without the need of extensive instruction and experience.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a feeding mechanism embodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken substantia ly on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. lis a rear elevation of the apparatus;

F 5 is a section taken substantially on of Fig. 1; and section taken substantially on shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 1,279,559 to Bert Arthur Linderman granted September 24, 1918, for wood working machine and in accordance with which it is desired to first bring a board edge to trued form and then provide dovetail tongues and .aovcs extending lengthwise of its edge interfittii A and interlocking with an appropriate formed edge of a second board. Since my pres t invention relates merely 13. A table 14 is carried by this bracket and arranged along one side the operative travel of the conveyor 18. Feeding means embodying my invention are arranged upon the other side of the operative travel. of the conveyer and it is contemplated that an attendant will push the board (indicated at 15) to within the Zone of action of the feeding means and permit the feeding means to move it laterally into accurate position with respect to the conveyor for delivery to the dovetailing apparatus. This board first ongages a yielding abutment comprised in the present instance of a plurality of yielding stops which are moved individually in amount determined by the conformation of a particular part of the board edge engaged. These stops in this apparatus are carried by a feeding member which moves at right angl s to or normally to the conveyor travel. The feeding member engages the board and moves it toward the attendant an amount determined by the extent of yielding or rather inversely to the extent of yielding of the finger or member yielding the last to position the board part engaged by such finger the desired or minimum distance from a theoretic line of operation, this line in the present instance being in the plane of the cutter or saw. indicated by reference character if) in Fig. t.

The feeding member comprises a body 17 adapted to slide back and forth upon table guides 18 in the feeding action. The body 17 is provided with a pair of lugs 19 connected by pivot members 21 with a back plate 22, which has a shifting pivot in lugs of the frame 11. This shifting pivot (,Oll'lPllSES stub shafts 24 mounted in ears 25 in the back and stub shafts 26 in the lugs 23 and connecting bolts 27 fast in said stub shafts 24: and 26. Each bolt 27 is threadedly engaged in a stub shaft 26 and is provided with a collar 28 to engage one side of the shaft 24-. and with a lock nut 29 for engaging the other side to lock the parts together. The end Sl. of the bolt is square to permit its turning in the shaft 26 as will be presently described.

A web 32 extends out from the back plate and is coimected to an arm 33 fixed at 34 and 35in the web. Connection at 34 is a pivotal one normally held against movement by the connection 35 which is a bolt and slot construct-ion provided for the purpose of adjustment, as will be later more fully explained. An arm 36 extends forwardly from the back 22 into the frame and is connected to a rod 37 disposed through an aperture 38 in the frame and normally pressed down by a spring 39 moving the back plate in counter-clockwise direction about the stub shaft 24- with consequent movement of the body 17 toward the left viewing Fig. 5, this being the direction of its feeding stroke.

The feeding member or body 17 is retracted upon occasion by engagement of a roll 41 with a cam 42 upon a power shaft 43 suitably driven from any preferred source of power, as by a motor l6. The motor showing a drive connection purely schematic in the present instance.

Vl hen the board 15 is positioned it is moved up until it engages the protruding! ends 51 of abutment or finger members 52 loosely pivoted upon stub shafts These abutment or finger members have rearwardly extending tails 54, each connected in the present instance by a spring from a point 56 intermediate its length to an atljacent member at 57 near the axis of movement of such member. The tendency of these springs then is to position the pro truding ends 51 in outwardly extending: position. A collar 58 is mounted upon the stub shaft 53 and an arm 59 extends rearwardly from it and carries a wedge block (ii. at its rear end. The arm 59 is connected by a spring with a forwardly extending: part 63 of the tail 54 of the finger member. Thus constructed and arranged the finger member and the arm normally move together as a two-part member. A lug or shoulder 50 extends up from. the tail 54 of the finger piece and carries a screw 50 adapted to engage the arm 59 to limit compressing movement of the spring 62. Studs or posts 60 are arranged for engagement with the rear en tls of the wedges 61 to limit compressing movement of the springs 55.

It is intended that the wedge blocks (3.! will detern'iine the lateral feeding mow ment of the feed member. As mav be seen. viewing Fig. 2 I under wedge members 64- carried beneath a shoulder 65 on the back 22. Feeding motion stops when this back under the action Hill the wedge blocks 61 more of the spring 39 enga 'es the wedge and the moving parts become locked or clamped in assumed relations. In the feeding move- .ment the board engages the forward face (i? of the feed member 17 at the edge points more remote from the theoretic line of operatlon earlier referred to. The finger pieces arranged adjacent the points nearer said theoretic line of operation. i. 0.. in the hollows or valleys of the board edge extend boyond the face 67 of the feeding: mem er and may be moved back toward it by extension of the springs 62 and without disturbing the position of the wedge members. it be 1,; remembered in this connection that in the present instance the finger extending farthest beyond. the face 67 is associated with the wedge block 61 which has been clamped and has halted the feeding action.

It sometimes happens that it is desirable. because of imperfections of one kind or another, to remove more of the board edge than would bev occasioned merely by the shape of the edge itself and to this end I have provided means for restraining movement of one of the rods or arms 59 under the action of the protruding end 51 of the abutment fingers. Two such means are shown on the drawing, one being a manually operable arm 71 positioned in a stub shaft 53, to which. the collar 58 is fast and which. upon being held against movement when the board is pushed against the abutment, causes the companion wedge block to remain over in position for earlier engagement with its wedge 64 than would otherwise occur. The second means shown for the accomplishment of this result is the provision of a slot '72 in a top plate 73 arranged over the abutment and carried by the feeding member and the provision of a shouldered post 74 an ranged in the slot and carrying a knurled nut 75 at its top. This nut can be moved lengthwise of the slot to limit as much as may be desired the rotative movement of the companion arm 59 with the linger piece The whole feeding mechanism may be adjusted toward and from the conveyor 13 by manipulation of the bolts 27 and thus vary the diflerence between the line of saw cut and the nearest point of board edge. Adjustment for accuracy of operation and proper relation between the 02111142 and the feeding member is obtained by the slot and bolt connection It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being mercly a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A mechanism for positioning boards and other articles with respect to an operating member. comprising in combination, a laterally reciprocable feed member, a yielding abutment carried by said feed member against which said board or article may be pushed, and means for moving said feed member an amount determined by its yielding for moving said board or article laterally into accurate position.

2. A mechanism for positioning boards and other articles with respect to an operatmg member, comprising in combination, a yielding abutment against which said board or article may be pushed, and a sliding member movable normal to the length of the board to move the board laterally into accurate position, the extent of said movement being determined by said abutment.

3. A mechanism for positioning boards and other articles with respect to an operating member, comprising in combination, a

support, a positive feeding member for moving a board or article in a sidewise direction upon said support to arrange it in accurate position, and a yielding abutment carried by said member and determining by the extent of its yield the extent of the feeding more ment of the member.

st. A mechanism for positioning boards and other articles with respect to an operating member, comprising a member having straight line reciprocation for moving the board or article sidewise, and an abutment yielding in accordance with the presented edge of the board or article engaged by said member for determining the extent of feeding movement.

5. A mechanism for positioning boards and other articles with respect to an operat ing member, comprising in combination, a laterally reciprocable feeding member, a plurality of yielding members carried by said feeding member adapted to engage spaced points on the presented edge of a board to be fed, and means arrangeable in accordance with the position of said yielding members for determining the extent of feeding action.

6. A mechanism for positioning boards and other articles with respect to an operating member, comprising in combination, an abutment yielding in accordance with the edge of a board or other article, a reciprocating means for moving said board or other article laterally into feeding position and in accordance with the yielding of said abutment. said movement of said feeding means being of regular recurrence.

7. A mechanism for positioning boards or other articles with respect to an operating men'iber, comprising in combination, a. feeding member, an abutment engaging the board edge for determining the extent of feeding movement, and independent means for automatically determining the time of feeding movement.

8. A mechanism for positioning boards or other articles with respect to an operating member, comprising in combination, a sup port, a yielding abutment adapted to engage the board or article to cause yielding of the abutment in conformation with the edge of the article, means for causing yielding of the abutment in nonconformation with the edge of the article, and means for feeding the article laterally on said support in accordance with the yielding of said abutment.

9. A mechanism for positioning boards or other articles with respect to an operating member, comprising in combination, a support, a yielding abutment adapted to engage the board or article to cause yielding of the abutment in conformation with the edge of the article, manually operable means for causing yielding of the abutment in non.- conformation with the edge of the article,

and means for feeding the article laterally on said support in accordance with the yielding of said abutment.

10. A mechanism for positioning boards or other articles with respect to an operating member, comprising in combination, a feeding member for moving the board or article laterally, a yielding member carried by the feeding member and yieldable in conformation with the edge of the board, a part associated with said yielding member and adapted for manual manipulation to move in amount less than the requirement of the board edge, and means actuating said feeding member in amount determined by the manipulation of said part.

11. A mechanism for positioning boards or other articles with respect to an operating member. comprising in combination, a support, a yielding abutment adapted to engage the edge of the board or article as an incident of the feeding motion, and to yield in conformity therewith, means feeding said board or article laterally on said support, and a mechanical control between said abutment and said feeding means for determining the extent of the feeding action of said feeding means in accordance with the yielding of said abutment.

12. A mechanism for positioning boards or other articles with respect to an operating member, comprising in combination, a plurality of yielding abutments each having a part brought to feed-controlling position by yielding in accordance with the conformation of the edge and having a part independently yielding.

13. A mechanism for positioning boards or other articles with respect to an operating member, comprising in combination, means for feeding; the boa rd or article laterally, an abutmentyielding in conformation. with the presented edge of a board, a stop member connected with said abutment for determining the extent of feeding action in accordance with the yielding produced. by the edge of the board, said abutment being capable of yielding'thereafter while said stop member remains in accurate operative position.

14. A mechanism for positioning boards or other articles with respect to an operating member, comprising in combination, a feeding member for moving the board or article laterally, a double link drive for said feeding member, andL a member movable in accordance with the shape of the presented edge of the board for delimiting the action of said drive.

15. A mechanism for positioning boards or other articles with respect to an operating member, comprising in combination, a feeding member for moving the board 0:- article laterally, a double link drive for said feeding member,v and a member movable in accordance with the shape of the presented edge of the board for delimiting the action of said drive, and spring means for actuating said drive.

16. A mechanism for positioning boarts or other articles with respect to an operating member, to permitthe disposal of a minimum amount of material at oneside of a fixed theoretic line of operation, comprising means located at one side of said line for selecting the part or parts of an edge of a board or other article nearest said line and for shifting said board to bring said part or parts into accurate position with respect to said line, and means for varying the final position of said part or parts with respect to said line.

17. A mechanism for positioning boards or the like to permit the disposal of a minimum amount of material at one side of a fixed theoretic line of operation, comprising means located at one side of said line for selecting the par; t or parts of the edge of the board or article nearest said line and for shifting said board to accurate position with respect to said line, said means being adjustable toward and from said line.

BERT A. LINDERMAN. 

